Maintaining healthy teeth and gums doesn’t require a secret method. When it comes to your oral health, maintaining a solid home care routine is essential to get fresh breath, white teeth, and healthy gums. Flossing your teeth daily is one part of the equation. Coupled with brushing your teeth and tongue, it’s a tried and true way to keep your teeth white, healthy, and clean. Here are 5 benefits of flossing your teeth.
#1: It gets you that “deep clean” feeling
While brushing your teeth can remove the majority of plaque on your teeth, it can’t target the debris between them. By flossing at least once daily, you can remove harmful bacteria and food from hard-to-reach places. When left unattended, this plaque between your teeth can cause bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, and unsightly stains. While brushing makes it a challenge to reach these places, floss can remove debris in these areas to give you the feeling of a 100% clean mouth.
#2: Flossing makes your teeth whiter
Though you can cosmetically whiten stained teeth, you need a consistent home care regimen that will keep your teeth clean and healthy. The spots between your teeth can develop some stubborn stains that will be difficult for whitening rays to remove if you don’t attend to them regularly. Quick fixes will make your teeth look good, but flossing daily will help your teeth look even better.
#3: It makes your gums healthier
While flossing gives your mouth that finishing touch it needs to feel truly clean, it also gets the plaque off the part of your gums that your toothbrush can’t reach. This decreases your chance of contracting gingivitis or gum disease, which is both painful and makes your gums deteriorate. The more plaque you remove from your gums, the healthier your mouth is going to be in general.
#4: You’re preventing bigger problems
Did you know that your oral health is closely tied to your total health? By neglecting your teeth and gums, you can develop gum disease, which increases your risk for heart disease and diabetes. To get this benefit, you need to make sure that you floss at least once a day.
#5: You Have Plenty of Flossing Options
Traditional unwaxed floss can feel abrasive and uncomfortable. However, new and improved versions come in the form of waxed string or ribbons, which make the experience more comfortable and smooth.
Sometimes, people avoid flossing because they don’t like the mechanics of traditional floss. It can get messy and complicated to reach your back molars as well. This is why manufacturers have created new types of floss that allow us to keep our fingers clean. These convenient flossers come in the form of tensed string that is supported by a plastic handle. These products make it easy and quick to floss your teeth accurately and efficiently while keeping your fingers clean.
You can also try automatic flossers that do the job for you, which takes the effort out of your daily cleaning routine! All you have to do is place the device near your teeth. The automatic flosser will detect your teeth and send the filament between them, executing a perfect flossing technique each time.
Patients with braces should also rest assured that they can continue to floss by using special tools that allow them to navigate their brackets and wires safely. It’s also important to mention that individuals with braces shouldn’t use unwaxed floss because the filaments can get stuck in their mouth.
Note: A WaterPik greatly helps the tooth cleaning process but isn’t a true substitute for real floss, plus floss is super cheap!
Dental Care in Los Angeles
To bring out the most in your smile, flossing daily is key. You should also incorporate regular dental checkups and cleanings into the equation. Contact us to schedule a free consultation or an appointment today!